Aviano F-16s Deploy

At the invitation of the government of Poland, twelve US 555th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcons and approximately 200 personnel assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano AB, Italy, arrived at Lask AB, Poland on 14-15 March 2014 for bi-lateral exercises. Designated Detachment 1, 52nd Operations Group, air operations began on 18 March. The standing aviation detachment consists of a small team of US Airmen, in country, on a prolonged basis to act as a coordinating element for US-Polish joint training. The objectives for this particular training exercise are in line with the aviation detachment's original intent, which is to remain ready to operate across the range of military operations. The detachment was first activated in November 2012.